Background: Polarities are interdependent oppositional values that must be managed in a
balanced sustainable dynamic for improving head nurses performance. Head nurses' ability to
identify and manage polarities helps to save time and resources; build trust and reduce resistance to
change, accelerate and sustain achievement of better performance. Aim of the study: Determine the
effect of polarities management educational program for head nurses on their performance. Study
design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted in all medical
and surgical departments at Benha University Hospital. Subjects: Consisted of all head nurses (61)
who worked at medical and surgical departments. Tools of data collection: Three different tools
were used to collect data: I. Polarity Management Knowledge Questionnaire, II. Polarity
Management Practice Checklist, III. Head Nurses Performance Observational Checklist. Results:
More than three fifth (63.9.8%) of head nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding polarity
management at preprogram phase, that improved to (82.0%) and (80.3%) satisfactory level at post
&follow up of program phases respectively. More than two thirds (68.9%) of the head nurses had
poor practice level regarding polarity management, that improved to be (85.2%) and (82%) to good
practice level at post program and follow up phase. Only (11.5%) of the head nurses had high
performance level in pre-program phase that improved to be (83.6%) in post program and (80.3%)
in follow up phase. Conclusion: There was a highly statistical significance correlation between
head nurses' knowledge, practice regarding polarity management and their performance at post and
follow up program. Recommendations: In-service education and training programs must be
continuous process for refreshing head nurses' knowledge and practice regarding polarity
management. Encouraging head nurses to improve and update their knowledge by self-learning
through center of hospital training.